The future of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations still hangs up in the air after the conclusion of Thursday’s assembly.
The FSIN is facing a severe fiscal shortfall after a series of transfer cuts from the Harper government and has had to issue layoff notices to most of its staff.
Throughout much of the morning, delegates discussed the possibility of using monies from the First Nations Gaming Trust to make up the FSIN’s shortfall but a number of chiefs were not in favour of this option.
Thunderchild First Nation Chief Delbert Wapass says it will now be up to a Feb. 24 meeting of the tribal chiefs to decide on how to best move forward.
“The understanding is from now until Mar. 31, there’ll be the tribal chiefs, the tribal reps will come together, they’ll drive that bus, they’ll come back with options and recommendations,” he says.
Wapass adds, although it won’t be easy, he is confident a workable solution will be found.
“I think there’s going to be a consensus, we’ve been in time crunch situations before.”
The executive of the FSIN – which includes the chief and four vice-chiefs – has been asked to present the tribal chiefs with a core operational plan.
What remains unclear is whether the tribal chiefs will agree to give the FSIN more money or assess its budget and ask the organization to find further efficiencies.
The recommendations from the tribal chiefs meeting will then be taken to a general assembly meeting on Mar. 20.